Coping in the Covid-19 pandemia: how different resources and strategies can be risk or protective factors to mental health in the Brazilian population

OBJECTIVE: The present study's objective was to investigate the pandemic's impact on mental health and identify variables that can increase or decrease the chances of stress, anxiety, and depression, in both a sample with and one without self-reported mental health issues, in a Brazilian population. DESIGN: a cross-sectional quantitative study. Data were collected online in May and June of 2020. Participated 1130 adults between 18–78 years old (mean = 37.46 years, SD = 12.18), from 20 Brazilian states, with an average of 58.61 days (SD = 23.2) of social distancing. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Depression, anxiety and stress symptoms, characterization of social distancing, and Coping strategies. RESULTS: A significantly higher prevalence of severe depression was found in those who practiced social distancing. Multinomial logistic regressions identified the explanatory model with risk and protection variables to mental health. For the group without a previous mental health diagnosis, using confrontation (OR = 1.39, CI95% 1.23–1.58) and escape strategies (OR = 1.48, CI95% 1.19–1.84) increases the odds of presenting severe depression, while positive reappraisal (OR = 0.85, IC95% 0.78–0.93) and problem-solving (OR = 0.75, CI95% 0.63-–0.88) were protective factors. In the group with mental disorders, using confrontation (OR = 1.33, CI95% 1.10–1.60) and escape strategies (OR = 1.49, CI95% 1.12–1.98) were also risk factors for severe depression and no coping protective factors were found. CONCLUSIONS: Problem-solving and positive reappraisal were protective strategies that potentially reduced the odds of presenting depression and anxiety, but only in people without a previous mental health diagnosis. Public policies must offer psychological support to the most vulnerable, as well as orientation based on scientific evidence, aiming at improving quality of life.